Hammond native, Mrs. Regina Showers-Gordon, is a visionary leader, innovator, educator, and artistic creator who uses her talents and gifts to serve others and help them reach their goals. As a former educator herself, education has remained her first love. Regina is a Southeastern Louisiana University graduate, where she earned her Bachelor of Art degree later attended Louisiana State University to obtain alternative teacher certification.

In 2014, she founded Petra College, to address workforce development needs of her Hammond Community. Mainly providing pathways to demand career opportunities that would ensure economic stability for families mostly headed by single and under-employed mothers. This endeavor is the backbone of her mission to esteem others and provide economic empowerment through vocational education and financial literacy. Since Petra College’s inception, it has graduated over 400 plus medical assistants, certified nursing assistants, and phlebotomists and garnered national accreditation by the COE.

Her servitude spirit has birthed other social entrepreneurial ventures such as Gloss Enterprise, which attends to the health and wellness needs of children and adults with severe disabilities. These institutions bring joy to her life, knowing that they serve to make a difference in the quality of life of people during these turbulent times.

Currently, Ms. Showers-Gordon is working to build a continuum of educational programs in the Hammond community by adding early childhood education to complete the cradle-to-career pipeline that she envisions. This extended-hours daycare will meet the needs of working families, by providing affordable late-night care services.

Regina attributes her success to God, her parents and husband, from which she has never strayed. Regina is continually active in her church. She serves as a licensed missionary and Sunday School teacher. Her faith-based rearing in the church led her to establishing A & P Records, a Gospel Music record label that she has grown from startup to a force to be reckoned with nationally. Multiple songs created by A&P Records have topped the National Billboard Music Charts, and Regina’s artists are breaking ground in an extremely competitive industry. Mrs. Gordon is a board member of the Tangipahoa Chamber of Commerce and was named Fidelity Bank’s Woman of the year.

In her work as educator, social entrepreneur, and music creator, she feels compelled to impart her knowledge in her community in a way that empowers all. Outside of running multiple entities, Regina finds respite and support from her loving husband and biggest supporter, Mr. Willard Gordon, and her three wonderful children and granddaughter. She is also the eldest of ten siblings with whom she enjoys tight knit relationships.